Less allocation to labour sector in Interim Budget

Despite the economic meltdown having an impact on most labour intensive sectors, the government has allocated Rs 140 crore less for the Labour and Employment Ministry in the Interim Budget.

Allocations in most labour welfare funds like for Beedi workers, Mica mine workers and cine workers have either been reduced or left the same as last year despite cess being collected by the state governments and the Centre on account of these funds.

The planned allocation to social security and health insurance for unorganised sector workers has been hiked from an existing Rs 204 crore to Rs 218 crore in this Budget.

The government's net expenditure on social security schemes had dropped to Rs 1,229 crore from Rs 1,387 crore last year, despite a global economic crisis resulting in job and wage loss.